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Liam kept the vanishing girl in his mind. If she was leaving Lithus, perhaps his luck was still serving him and she was making for Bannimor? He could follow her and escape.
But she was Nemaro. He couldn’t imagine why she needed to sneak away. Why not go openly? Unless she was doing something she shouldn’t. Now that he was more aware, he realised no one was leaving.
Maybe they had ordered everyone to stay close, at least until they knew the fallout from Jarrod’s failed attack? Of course, he realised. Jarrod’s failed attack. That was why his clan had turned on him, and why they were all gathered here in the hall. Their risk of exposure had trapped them here.
If no one could leave, it would be even harder for him to get out of here without drawing attention. He had to be quick and follow that fleeing girl. He eased away from the treasure room wall, drifting slowly, looking for Gina, and saw her almost at once. She was close by, looking around with a hint of confusion on her face. His heart leapt. She was looking for him. He drifted closer, and she confirmed his thoughts when her confusion cleared, and she smiled at him with love.
He kissed her. “Will you come with me, Gina? Shall we swim together?”
Her dream-hazed eyes gleamed, a hint of the old Gina, and she kissed him back. “Yes.”
He took her hand and drifted with her back towards the hole in the treasure chamber wall. But figures blocked access to the exit. His heart thudded. Were they already discovered? Two girls, one wearing outlandish human clothes, the other a wafting shift, were moving as warily as he was, and looked startled when they saw him and Gina. Their long pale brown hair drifted around them in clouds, making him think of fairy tale mermaids. They stared at Liam and Gina, but seeing their vacant stares, disregarded them, and whispered together. They talked without speech, thoughts passing between them, but Liam caught their words like faint echoes in his mind.
“I saw her here, but she is gone. She must have gone back to watch the human paddling his board.”
“To watch him? Or try to join him on land?” They both looked terrified. “Jarrod is gone, but Traynor and Aaron are more frightened than ever. We risk their wrath if we follow her. If we are no longer Forgotten, she could expose us, and bring humans even closer to discovering us.”
“And if we are no longer Forgotten, we risk her death if we don’t.”
“If we stop her in time and return unseen, all will be well.”
“But what if someone stops us as we leave? Or even as we return? What will we say?”
The girl whose human clothes wafted about her said, “We need cover.” Her eyes darted about for a solution and alighted on Liam and Gina. She smiled, looking at her companion, then back at them. “What about girlish high spirits getting the better of us, sister?”
Her sister’s eyes gleamed as she appraised Liam and Gina. “And not a bad idea once we are all safe. I think this one is new.” They both smothered laughter. Then one started, eyes widening. “There is a disturbance. Perhaps someone has come?” Around the great hall, faces were turning towards the doorway.
“It won’t be Aislinn,” said the other, clearly missing the point.
“But it will be a distraction.”
“You are right. Then do we still need these?” She looked at Liam and Gina.
“To be doubly safe, yes. And possibly entertained.”
They smiled, and each slowly raised a beckoning arm. “Will you join us, dear ones? Quietly now, let us slip away together.”
Liam felt a potent wave of promise flood him, and his own desire welled in response, dominating his senses and making it hard to think. He saw Gina’s responding smile. They each accepted a hand and slowly, easily, the line of four drifted apparently unnoticed, single file through the hole beside them, across the piles of gold, and out through the gaping hole in the far wall.
Through the befuddling summons, Liam’s heart thudded, still conscious of the heavy coins in his pocket, and Gina’s hand in his. His luck had made the way smooth for him. He was escaping with Gina and the secret of a king’s ransom.
